BUSN11141 Fundamentals of Senior Management Assignment SCQF Level 11

BUSN11141 Summary of Module

Managers operate within increasingly complex and changing organisational and contextual circumstances, whether in the market, public or ‘third’ sectors and irrespective of the size of their organisations or the types of goods or services these enterprises produce for their customers or clients. This foundation module provides learners with an understanding of the management functions and the principal internal and external environmental contexts of contemporary organisations, including the managerial and business context, within which businesses operate. More organisations are now more open to criticism and may face legal challenges for their activities.

This module also introduces learners to a number of business structures, cultures and the political, social, economic, technological, legal and ethical considerations affecting business. The module explores the question ‘What is a business?’ It investigates business functions including human resource management, accounting and finance, operations and marketing and considers the linkages between them and the challenges experienced in managing across functional boundaries.

This module also considers organisational performance. Students are introduced to evaluating organisational performance and the external and internal measures that might be used. Students will analyse and evaluate organisations (at different levels) so that they can become more competitive. The module will consider the link between performance and organisational direction, goals and objectives.

• This module seeks to provide an integrated and critical understanding of businesses and their core business functions including internal and external factors which impact on them. The module provides students with an understanding of organisational theory, management functions and leadership theory.
• This module enables learners to analyse how the business functions operate in a real-life context by utilising business case studies and online activities accessed through the UWS online VLEs which bring together all the various functional elements to emulate 'real world' issues that need to be addressed. Specific scenarios will be created to simulate issues that impact on the on the overall success of the business.
• This module considers organisational performance. Students are introduced to evaluating organisational performance and the external and internal measures that might be used. Students will reflect on how organisational objectives are met, the role of systems for managing performance, the tools for managing performance.
• The module provides a holistic view of managing performance (economy, efficiency, effectiveness, equity and efficacy) is taken. It is important for all organisations to perform well and make the best use of their resources and as a result managers are not only judged on the profit they make but how that profit has been made. Areas included in terms of performance -Organisational Performance Management, Performance Measurement, Performance Indicators, Quality and Risk, Operational Efficiency, Financial Health, Customer Relations, Employee Engagement, Corporate Social Responsibility, Sustainability, Innovation and Enterprise.

BUSN11141 Learning Outcomes: (maximum of 5 statements)

On successful completion of this module the student will be able to:

• L1. Demonstrate a critical understanding of the key tools for analysis of the internal and external environmental context within which businesses operate in order to exhibit knowledge and analyse the impact of changing and challenging environments on businesses and business functions in different sectors.
• L2. Critically evaluate business functions and their contribution to organisational success across a range of business settings
• L3. Synthesise the complexity and ambiguity of other factors which impinge on businesses and business functions including structure, culture, stakeholders and ethics
• L4. Critically evaluate the various factors that impact upon the health of an organisation, using accepted forms of internal and external measurement
• L5. Critically analyse the extent to which the health of an organisation may affect its ability to operate in a successful manner, in terms of objectively acknowledged criteria

BUSN11141 Employability Skillls and Personal Developement Planning (PDP) Skills